What are the benefits of working with a real estate agent to find an apartment rental?

There are numerous benefits of working with a real estate agent to find a rental apartment.  However, realistically not every agent will provide all or many of these advantages, so finding a quality and experienced professional is very important:

• Experience – Has executed numerous deals, works full-time as a real estate agent and is familiar with all aspects of the process
• Market Knowledge – Educated about and understands pricing, availability and dynamics of the industry
• Relationships / Access – Possesses relationships with management companies / landlords for increased access to apartment listings and potentially better pricing
• Neighborhood Knowledge – Aware of what neighborhoods have to offer, including restaurants / nightlife, transportation, general everyday needs (grocery stores, gyms, etc.), schools, points of interest, etc.
• Consultant / Advisor – Provides personalized and honest advice based on the attributes mentioned above and facilitates the search, application and lease signing process

The bottom line is that if you find the right agent (which may not be easy to do), he/she can make you feel comfortable throughout the stressful apartment search process, find you a great place matching your criteria and give you guidance about moving and getting settled into your new home.